¹⁰ “But come on, all of you, try again!
    I will not find a wise man among you.^(A)
11 My days have passed,^(B) my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart^(C)
12 turn night into day;^(D)
    in the face of the darkness light is near.^(E)
13 If the only home I hope for is the grave,^(F)
    if I spread out my bed^(G) in the realm of darkness,^(H)
14 if I say to corruption,^(I) ‘You are my father,’
    and to the worm,^(J) ‘My mother’ or ‘My sister,’
¹⁵ where then is my hope—^(K)
    who can see any hope for me?^(L)
16 Will it go down to the gates of death?^(M)
    Will we descend together into the dust?”^(N)